Compositions and methods for improving mitochondrial function and treating neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive disorders

Abstract

Provided are compositions comprising compounds or precursors to compounds which may be used for a variety of therapeutic applications including, for example, treating and/or preventing a disease or disorder related to reduced or inadequate mitochondrial activity, including aging or stress, diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases. The compounds relate generally to urolithins and precursors thereof, including but not limited to ellagitannins and urolithin A. In certain embodiments the compositions are presented in or as food products or nutritional supplements. These same compounds and compositions can also be used advantageously in generally healthy individuals to increase or maintain metabolic rate, decrease percent body fat, increase or maintain muscle mass, manage body weight, improve or maintain mental performance (including memory), improve or maintain muscle performance, improve or maintain mood, and manage stress.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of treating a neurodegenerative disease, comprising:
 administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of urolithin A, thereby treating the neurodegenerative disease; wherein the effective amount of urolithin A is about 140 mg to about 8,400 mg; and the neurodegenerative disease is selected from the group consisting of AIDS dementia complex, Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered orally. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered parenterally. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered at least weekly. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered at least daily. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson's disease. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Huntington's disease. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a pharmaceutical. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a medical food. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a functional food. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a food additive. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a dietary supplement. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a food product. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the urolithin A is administered in the form of a nutritional supplement.